In recent weeks we took a close look at a brickbond called the English Bond, this particular type of bond has an aesthetic quality and charm in historic buildings, the pattern is recognizable yet subtle enough to possibly be missed by half of our DC cityslicker neighbors. The English brickbond is most notably one of the strongest brick bonds available in all types of Mason reconstruction with brick.
Today we’re going to talk about a different brickbond, distinct yet also comparatively very prolific in Washington D.C. called the Flemish Bond. While termed a “Flemish” bond, this classic brickwork pattern emerged across medieval Europe, not solely the Flemish region. One picture for reference, to distinguish between the Flemish Bond in the English Bond follows below. The picture on the left shows the English Bond in the picture on the right shows the Flemish Bond in a side-by-side comparison.
The bond intersperses stretcher courses with header courses in an ornamental alternating configuration. Though not as structurally robust as the English bond, the Flemish bond has a degree of structural durability and a better visual appearance. Of course, it is debatable, but many people could say that the Flemish Bond has a superior, more attractive aesthetic. It does look particularly well crafted as if each part of the building was intricately laid to look almost like a woven wall of brick artwork.
The building shown in the picture below is made from a low temperature fired brick set in a Flemish Bond. From a distance, the entirety of the expanse of the brick wall looks almost ornate as if each brick fits directly into its pattern. Other Bonds have the same relative configuration with one or each brick being part of the overall expanse or mass of the other bricks laid within the same wall or bond together, but in the case of the Flemish Bond, each individual brick visually appears to have more of a relative position, as if each brick is placed more intentionally.
The key distinction from English bond is that Flemish lacks spanning continuous header courses bonding the two brick wythes together. In the stretcher bond (aka running bond), only the mortar joints unite the inner and outer wythes, creating a weaker connection. Here, in the Flemish bond there is at least an alternating cross between a double wythe. As well, for smaller structures of typical dimensions, the Flemish bond have ample integrity. The pattern repetition also lends a refined, upscale visual texture.
The particular picture below shows the distinct Queen closers used to fill the void at the second to last brick to the left in each alternating row of the bricks in the header position.
In earlier history, the laborious production of pressed bricks made brick facades costly. Flemish bond’s decorative nature increased the value of these facades, even with lesser quality bricks. Primitive kilns and hardwoods rich in potassium influenced historic brick colors and textures, with lighter fired exteriors and darker, denser interiors. These early masonry techniques contributed to the coveted look. The rowlock edge of the brick, when exposed in the cube in firing would become a deeper blue color. Interspersed in the Flemish bond, particularly, would create a visual distinction.
To differentiate bond types, in masonry terminology we describe brick orientations. Stretchers are laid flat; soldiers are stood vertically. Shiners are placed horizontally to expose the largest face; sailors show the same face upright. Sometimes veteran masons would tell apprentices that they can remember this because the sailors stand proud breast front saluting around the deck of a boat when entering the home port and the soldiers lay down dead in boxes on their sides to accommodate space, morose yet rememberable. Headers and rowlocks reveal the narrow and short ends respectively. Flemish bond combines stretchers and headers artfully for ornamental appeal on a modestly sturdy framework.
Though higher-performing bonds exist, the Flemish bond strikes a balance between aesthetic and structural strength.. Flemish bond represents craftsmanship and taste across the ages.
Flemish bond bricklaying is known for its ornamental beauty yet required a higher degree of craftsmanship to construct, compared to the English bond and stretcher bond. This technique requires extra labor compared to simpler bonds.
Specifically, the strict alternation of stretcher and rowlock courses necessitated frequent use of custom-cut brick bats or queen closers to fill gaps along the rows. Unlike uniform modern bricks, historic common bricks varied in size even within batches. Rowlock courses thus rarely align perfectly evenly, and in the starting and ending of rows it leaves a void needing special bricks sized to fit, based on the exact dimension of the wall.
It requires skill to hand cut these brick bats and queen closers on site for precision filling. Queen closers are used in both the English bond and the Flemish bond walls despite their inefficiency. Yet the Flemish bond, specifically, was deemed worthwhile for its artistic elegance and serviceability, hallmarks of quality construction.
The rowlock courses themselves also tie the wall’s structural continuity. Rowlocks effectively span across the double wythes almost like the interlocking headers of English bond. But for modest sized buildings, the decorative pattern provides sufficient stability.
Modern DC city dwellers may not realize Flemish bond’s interesting origins. Rowlock courses and brick queen closers show the detailed labors of earlier craftsmen. Each bond type carries tradeoffs between utility, durability and aesthetics. Beyond its aesthetic quality, the Flemish bond represents the historical ingenuity and determination to build not just capably but artfully, even when difficult. The historic facades still add variety to our DC urban built environment today.
Our Company and Upcoming Articles
As specialists in masonry restoration, our company has the expertise to manage and prescribe holistic and precise preservation work plans for historic brick and stone structures. Our team is highly trained and qualified in critical areas like repointing mortar joints, tuckpointing, and restoring deteriorated masonry. With decades of collective experience working on iconic historic buildings in Washington DC, we take pride in our quality craftsmanship. Together with our clients, we can develop custom solutions to repair and maintain the structural integrity and historic charm of your building. Our team has tackled some of the toughest challenges so that you can rely on our skills for your masonry restoration project.
In upcoming articles, we will examine the queen closer in more detail and compare and contrast this type of special cut brick with other types of special cut bricks, such as bat closers.
Follow us as we look at the science behind aging masonry and discover solutions to slow deterioration and maintain the structural integrity of our cherished historic buildings here in Washington, DC.
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